Dynamic laser control using feedback from a gain grating

Abstract

We demonstrate that self-induced gain gratings can provide nonlinear optical feedback that results in single-frequency selection and passive self e-switching of a conventional linear laser cavity. An experimental Nd:YAG laser system is described that yields a temporally-smooth 20 ns pulse at 1.064 mu m. In addition, we show that the feedback has phase-conjugate properties that permit ''flower-like'' mode formation even though the azimuthal symmetry of the cavity is broken.